Self contained spinnaker launching pouch

ABSTRACT

A pocket sewn into a spinnaker sail with the purpose in mind of creating a self contained receptacle from which the spinnaker may be launched. The pocket once sewn on is used for a place to store the spinnaker as an added benefit. The primary purpose of the pocket is to have a device from which to launch the sail which does not require devices separate from the sail itself and which eleminates the problems associated with launching this particularly cumbersome sail. The spinnaker is raised while contained in the pocket and while being raised is pulled from the pocket by the use of the lines attached to the feet of the sail.

United States Patent [191 Middleton, Jr.

3,750,608 Aug. 7, W73

[ SELF CONTAINED SPINNAKER LAUNCHING POUCH [75] Inventor: Lennie S. Middleton, Jr.,

Miami, Fla.

[73] Assignee: Max D. Puyan i c [22] Filed: Nov. 2, 1971 [Zl] Appl. No.: 194,991

[52] 11.8. CI. 114/103 [51] Int. Cl B6311 9/04 [58] Field Of Search .114/102-107; 224/10; 244/148 [56] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 639,172 ll/l936 Germany 224/10 Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler Assistant Examiner-Stuart M. Goldstein [57] ABSTRACT A pocket sewn into a spinnaker sail with the purpose in mind of creating a self contained receptacle from which the spinnaker may be launched. The pocket once sewn on is used for a place to store the spinnaker as an added benefit. The primary purpose of the pocket is to have a device from which to launch the sail which does not require devices separate from the sail itself and which eleminates the problems associated with launching this particularly cumbersome sail. The spinnaker is raised while contained in the pocket and while 7 being raised is pulled from the pocket by the use of the lines attached to the feet of the sail.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures SELF CONTAINED SPINNAKER LAUNCHING POUCH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In sail boating the spinnaker is a commonly used sail when negotiating a downwind course. The spinnaker because of its tremendous size in relation to other sails has always been difficult to launch and manage. Generally, launching a spinnaker has required either extra manpower or the use of cumbersome sail bags connected to the bow pulpit from which the spinnaker is launched. The extra manpower and materials heretofore used have contributed to difficulties in maximizing speed of a boat and adequately manning a boat without adding to the weight on board.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is both the method of and device for launching a spinnaker sail used in sail boating. As contrasted to previous methods of launching a spinnaker the present invention is considerably smaller and made into one piece with the sail itself, therefore, providing a means for launching a spinnaker using no separate devices or added manpower to facilitate the launch.

The object of the invention is to provide a means for any existing or newly manufactured spinnaker to be altered as provided in these specifications to create a pouch area in the head of the sail in which the sail may be tucked into and stored.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a means of launching the spinnaker from its self contained pouch.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide this means of storing and launching the spinnaker in a more reliable manner than heretofore and without the use of separate bags or spinnaker launching devices used heretofore.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a device for storing and launching the spinnaker, having the above object in mind, which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture, and is efficient and simple in operation.

Other objects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein the reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a spinnaker as would be seen when the spinnaker is in use reflecting the position and basic design of the attached invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of the invention after the spinnaker has been packed into it and is ready for launching.

FIG. 3 is a view of the spinnaker being pulled from the invention during launching.

Referring now in more detail to the drawing. 10 represents the head of the sail supported by line means in FIGS. 1 and 3, where the invention is located. Spinnakers vary in shape and size and the head portion varies accordingly, but basically always retains a pie shape. The edges of the spinnaker are known as the luffs, II. The cloth or synthetic material, 12 is placed in the head area of the sail and is shaped to conform to the individual spinnaker. Attention must not only be given to the shape of the invention, but also the area it covers so it may be used to contain the entire spinnaker. These objectives may be accomplished by varying the length of the material used on or along the luffs. The material is then attached permanently by sewing or other suitable means, 13 on or along the luffs of the sail. The material is also permanently attached along its bottom portion, 14 retaining an opening along this edge, 15. This opening may vary in size from several inches to the width of the sail from luff to luff and may be closed when the sail is packed into the pocket which is formed with the use of temporary means such as suitable attached snaps so as not to interfere with the easy release of the spinnaker when pulled from the formed pocket as shown in FIG. 3.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claim.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of my invention, I claim:

1. A device for storing and launching a spinnaker comprising a piece of material varying in shape and size in order to become an intregal part of the uppermost portion of the spinnaker,

said material attached to one side of the head of the spinnaker along or near the luffs of the sail means supporting said sail at the head of the spinnaker,

the bottom portion of the material facingto bottom portion of the sail being sewn only in part leaving an unsewn portion varying in length allowing the material and sail to form a pocket with this unsewn portion being the opening,

the pocket opening being left open and unattached,

the pocket opening being closed by a releasable latch and closure means,

the entire sail being stored in and subsequently launched from said pocket.

i t i t 

1. A device for storing and launching a spinnaker comprising a piece of material varying in shape and size in order to become an intregal part of the uppermost portion of the spinnaker, said material attached to one side of the head of the spinnaker along or near the luffs of the sail means supporting said sail at the head of the spinnaker, the bottom portion of the material facing to bottom portion of the sail being sewn only in part leaving an unsewn portion varying in length allowing the material and sail to form a pocket with this unsewn portion being the opening, the pocket opening being left open and unattached, the pocket opening being closed by a releasable latch and closure means, the entire sail being stored in and subsequently launched from said pocket. 